Understanding Cars Starts with a Proper Car Classification System

Understanding Cars Starts with a Proper Car Classification System
Translated and Edited | Updated: 2024-11-25

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“This B-segment car performs this way...”
“Comparing this A0-segment car with another A0-segment car...”

These are phrases we often hear from Chinese "media experts," commonly used as a pretext to display their so-called expertise in automobiles.

As someone who has been in the automotive industry for over 20 years and worked in automotive journalism for 15 years, I can’t help but feel that such rhetoric perpetuates misconceptions. Understanding cars should precede purchasing them, as it reflects the basic consumer responsibility of knowing the attributes and functionalities of a product before buying it. You wouldn’t purchase a phone without knowing if it runs Android, iOS, or another operating system, would you?

🚗 "Correct Classification Leads to Correct Understanding"
Chinese media has a long-standing reputation, from foreign automakers ridiculing their inability to drive manual transmission vehicles to orchestrated, commercialized narratives funded by ad dollars. Without an official car classification system in China, manufacturers exploit this gap, promoting skewed categorizations to mislead consumers.

🚨 The Consequences of Misleading Car Classification
While internationally recognized systems classify cars using well-defined criteria, many Chinese consumers rely on a distorted system popularized by select automakers. This flawed system creates a chaotic narrative, confusing consumers and enabling marketers to "sell ignorance."

European Car Segment System

The European car segment classification system divides passenger cars into ten categories, offering a clear framework for comparisons:

1. Quadricycle: Small, lightweight vehicles like the Renault Twizy.
2. A-Segment (Mini Cars): Compact models like Fiat 500, Renault Twingo.
3. B-Segment (Small Cars): Vehicles such as Honda Fit, Volkswagen Polo.
4. C-Segment (Medium Cars): Honda Civic, Toyota Corolla.
5. D-Segment (Large Cars): Honda Accord, BMW 3-Series.
6. E-Segment (Executive Cars): Honda Legend, Mercedes-Benz E-Class.
7. F-Segment (Luxury Cars): Red Flag L5, Rolls-Royce, Mercedes-Benz S-Class.
8. J-Segment (SUVs and Off-Road Vehicles): Ranges from compact to oversized models.
9. M-Segment (Multi-Purpose Vehicles): MPVs like Honda Freed and Odyssey.
10. S-Segment (Sports Cars): Sports cars like Honda NSX, Ferrari, Porsche 911.

Alternative Systems for Car Classification

European NCAP and US EPA classifications add further depth:

• Euro NCAP: Focuses on safety evaluations, categorizing cars into ten classes, including superminis, family cars, and sports cars.
• US EPA: Introduced in 1970, the EPA segments vehicles into nine classes based on size, including Minicompact, Subcompact, and Mid-Size categories.

Key Takeaways

🔑 Understanding global car classification systems ensures informed decision-making, helping consumers compare vehicles based on size, safety, and functionality. Chinese consumers deserve accurate information, not biased narratives shaped by corporate marketing.